Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 45
Explanation of the Final Dissolution (Ātyantika Laya) and the Arising of Hiraṇyagarbha — Subtle Body, Post-Death Transit, Rebirth, and Embodied Constituents
पञ्चमी विद्रधिस्थानं षष्ठी प्राणधरा मता कलासप्तमौ मांसधरा द्वितीया रक्तधारिणी
pañcamī vidradhisthānaṃ ṣaṣṭhī prāṇadharā matā kalāsaptamau māṃsadharā dvitīyā raktadhāriṇī
The fifth kalā is regarded as the seat of abscesses; the sixth is held to sustain prāṇa, the vital life-breath. The seventh kalā holds the flesh, and the second bears the blood.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Maps kalā (membranous layers) to clinical loci: abscess-seat, prāṇa-support, and māṃsa-holding—used to judge severity/prognosis and surgical/therapeutic approach.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kalā-bheda (Membranous layers): vidradhi-sthāna, prāṇadharā, māṃsadharā","lookup_keywords":["kalā","vidradhi-sthāna","prāṇadharā","māṃsadharā","raktadharā"],"quick_summary":"Identifies specific kalās by function—abscess locus, life-breath sustaining layer, flesh-holding layer—and reiterates blood-bearing layer for anatomical correlation."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Prāṇa is anatomically ‘supported’ (prāṇadharā) and pathology has seats (sthāna) within bodily layers.
Application: Encourages integrated reading of symptoms as layer-specific rather than merely surface phenomena.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-rachana: Dhatu/ Kala-vijnana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teaching tableau showing kalā layers as translucent membranes around tissues, with highlighted ‘vidradhi-sthāna’ and ‘prāṇadharā’ as critical zones.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sage-physician explaining a stylized human torso cutaway; membranes drawn as colored bands; a red-marked abscess-seat and a luminous prāṇa-channel motif; traditional ornamental framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed labels for prāṇadharā and māṃsadharā; central figure of Agni as teacher with disciples; diagrammatic side panel with layered membranes.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional illustration: clean cut-section of muscle and membranes, arrows to ‘māṃsadharā’ and ‘vidradhi-sthāna’; subdued palette, precise annotation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a medical lesson: illustrated manuscript page showing membranes and an abscess cross-section; scholars in discussion, fine detailing and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major external sandhi beyond compound segmentation; कलासप्तमौ treated as appositional compound/phrase.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 368.44 (tvacā layers); Agni Purana 368.46 (dharā/ādhāra mapping)
FAQs
Ayurvedic anatomical knowledge: it classifies specific bodily kalās (tissue-layers) by function—blood-bearing (second), abscess-prone locus (fifth), prāṇa-supporting layer (sixth), and flesh-supporting layer (seventh).
It shows the text moving beyond mythic narration into technical śāstra material—here, classical Ayurveda-style śarīra (anatomy/physiology) taxonomy—demonstrating the Purana’s role as a compendium of applied sciences.
By mapping the body as an ordered system (kalā, prāṇa, dhātu-support), the verse supports a dharmic view of embodied life—encouraging disciplined care of the body as an instrument for duty, worship, and spiritual practice.